Romance Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Romance

A person, likely a young child, standing in a dimly lit room, wearing a green shirt.
Review

A Ghost Story

by Adam Woodward

Rooney Mara feels a spec­tral pres­ence in this ele­gant slow-burn­er from direc­tor David Lowery.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A person wearing a black coat and sitting on wooden steps in front of a blue building.
Review

Maudie

by David Jenkins

A fine per­for­mance from Sal­ly Hawkins shores up this por­trait of a trag­ic folk artist.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A young woman in a dark dress stands before a candlelit mantelpiece, holding a candle in each hand.
Review

My Cousin Rachel

by David Jenkins

Roger Michell’s plush adap­ta­tion of Daphne du Maurier’s mys­tery romance nov­el fails to leave a last­ing impression.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two women with long, curly hair looking contemplative on a beach.
Review

Daughters of the Dust (1991)

by David Jenkins

Julie Dash’s dreamy debut fea­ture is back in cin­e­mas in time for its 25th anniversary.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Woman with curly brown hair wearing a white blouse, standing in a spotlight against a dark background.
Review

Rules Don’t Apply

by Glenn Heath Jr

This minor-key return for Hol­ly­wood leg­end War­ren Beat­ty is a pas­sion­ate slow-release gem.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A man in a white jumper stretching his arms and holding a mobile device in a dimly lit room.
Review

The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki

by Adam Woodward

A charm­ing romance anchors this hand­some box­ing dra­ma from direc­tor Juho Kuosmanen.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two people, a woman with short blonde hair and a man with a beard, sitting at a table with a vase of red flowers in the foreground. They appear to be engaged in conversation.
Review

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)

by David Jenkins

Rain­er Wern­er Fassbinder’s sub­ver­sive roman­tic mas­ter­piece returns ahead of a full BFI retrospective.

5
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A woman in a flowing, bright yellow ballgown twirling in a grand, ornate ballroom.
Review

Beauty and the Beast

by David Jenkins

This lux­u­ri­ant live-action refit of the beloved ani­mat­ed fea­ture sees Dis­ney extend its recent win­ning streak.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A man and woman lying together on a bed, looking intimate and close.
Review

Sweet Dreams

by David Jenkins

Ital­ian direc­tor Mar­co Bel­loc­chio ends an impres­sive run with a slick but schlocky mama’s boy melodrama.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Two people embracing, with one wearing a blindfold.
Review

Fifty Shades Darker

by David Jenkins

Could this be the most nau­se­at­ing­ly vanil­la erot­ic film fran­chise in the his­to­ry of cinema?

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect